How the race between the US and USSR to arm themselves with nuclear weapons led to mutually assured destruction
Hydrogen bombs and intercontinental ballistic missiles
The arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War saw a dramatic increase in the number of nuclear weapons on both sides. One of the most significant developments was the development of the hydrogen bomb.
This weapon was far more powerful than the atomic bombs used in World War II, and it was capable of causing massive destruction.
The other major advancement was the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. This technology allowed for nuclear weapons to be launched from one continent to another, making it possible for the two sides to target each other from a much greater distance.
This further increased the destructive power of nuclear weapons and made them a much more potent threat.
The Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was an enormous, top-secret undertaking by the United States during World War II to build the world’s first atomic bomb.
The project was so vast that it required the help of thousands of scientists, engineers, and technicians working at multiple locations around the country. It was also incredibly expensive, costing billions of dollars in today’s currency.
But the Americans weren’t the only ones interested in developing nuclear weapons. The Nazis had their own program, and so did the Soviet Union.
The Allies were especially worried about the Nazis getting their hands on an atomic bomb first, so they launched the Alsos Mission to track down the German scientists working on the project and steal their work.
Ultimately, the Manhattan Project was successful and the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945, ending the war.
But the Soviets didn’t stop their nuclear program; they had their own reasons for wanting a nuclear bomb.
Tensions escalate
The nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union was a key factor in the Cold War.
The two superpowers had a mutual fear of each other and the development of nuclear weapons was seen as a way to protect their own interests.
The idea of deterrence was central to the Cold War, as both sides sought to ensure that the other would not use nuclear weapons against them.
This led to a build-up of nuclear weapons on both sides, as each sought to ensure that they had enough weapons to deter the other.
The development of nuclear weapons was a major factor in the Cold War, as it allowed both sides to maintain mutually assured destruction. This balance of power was seen as essential to the Cold War, as it ensured that neither side could launch a surprise attack on the other.
This balance of power was maintained through the development of nuclear weapons, as both sides sought to ensure that they had enough weapons to deter the other.
As a result of the mutually assured destruction doctrine, much of the combat in the Cold War existed between proxy states.
Public sentiment after Hiroshima
In the immediate aftermath of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, public sentiment around the world was characterized by shock and horror.
The United States had used a weapon that could incinerate entire cities in a matter of seconds, and the consequences were all too apparent.
Many people were outraged, calling the use of nuclear weapons inhumane and barbaric. They argued that the targeting of civilians was morally reprehensible, and that there must have been a better way to end the war.
Others, however, took a different view. They saw the bombings as a necessary evil; the only way to force the Japanese to surrender and bring an end to the Second World War. For these individuals, the atomic bombs saved countless lives by avoiding the need for a bloody land invasion.
As the Cold War began and the nuclear arms race heated up, these two opposing viewpoints only became more entrenched.
While some saw nuclear weapons as a deterrent against war, others saw them as an existential threat to humanity. Thus, public sentiment on the ethics of nuclear weapons has always been complicated and divided.
Public paranoia
Both sides were determined to outdo the other in terms of military power and nuclear weapons. This competition led to the buildup of weapons on both sides, and the threat of nuclear annihilation became a real possibility.
The idea of a “doomsday” scenario, where a nuclear war would wipe out both sides, was a terrifying prospect. The fear of this potential outcome was a major factor in the Cold War, as both sides sought to maintain a balance of power and prevent the other from gaining an advantage.
The Cold War was a period of extreme tension and paranoia, and the threat of nuclear annihilation was a major factor in this.
The threat of nuclear annihilation was a constant reminder of the stakes involved in the Cold War. Despite the fear, both sides managed to maintain a balance of power and prevent the outbreak of a nuclear war.
Public resistance
The nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War was a source of great concern for the public. With the prospect of a nuclear war looming, people feared the potential destruction that could be caused by the weapons.
The governments of both countries sought to reassure the public that the weapons were necessary for their security, but this did little to assuage their fears.
In response to these fears, anti-nuclear movements began to emerge in both East and West during this period of time. In Europe, protests against nuclear weapons became increasingly common with demonstrations taking place in cities like London and Paris.
Meanwhile in the US, organizations such as SANE (the Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy) sought to raise awareness about the dangers posed by nuclear proliferation and advocate for disarmament initiatives.
These efforts helped bring attention to the issue and put pressure on governments around the world to take action towards reducing their stockpiles of nuclear weapons.
Trying to stay a step ahead
The United States and the Soviet Union both sought to stay ahead of the other in the nuclear arms race. Both sides developed strategies to outpace the other through the development of new weapons and the deployment of missiles.
The US developed the hydrogen bomb, which was more powerful than the atomic bomb, and the USSR developed the intercontinental ballistic missile, which could reach targets across the globe. Both sides also sought to increase their number of nuclear warheads and delivery systems, such as submarines and bombers.
The US and USSR also used espionage to gain an advantage over the other. The US used the U-2 spy plane to take aerial photographs of Soviet military installations, while the Soviets used their own spies to steal US nuclear secrets. Both sides also used propaganda to try to gain an advantage over the other.
Ultimately, both sides used a variety of strategies to try to stay a step ahead of the other in the nuclear arms race.
Others enter the race
In the early years of the Cold War, there were only two countries with nuclear weapons: the United States and the Soviet Union. The two superpowers raced to build up their arsenals, knowing that a nuclear strike by one side could be met with an equally devastating response by the other.
Other countries started to develop nuclear weapons as well. Great Britain, France, and China all developed nuclear arsenals in the 1960s. As more countries acquired nuclear weapons, the international community began to worry about the risk of nuclear proliferation, or the spread of nuclear weapons to even more countries.
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was created in 1968 to prevent that from happening. The treaty allows only five countries to have nuclear weapons: the United States, Russia (as the successor state to the Soviet Union), Great Britain, France, and China.
The NPT also continues to shape the way the international community addresses nuclear weapons.
Countries like India, Pakistan, and Israel, which have developed nuclear weapons outside the NPT, are often seen as rogue nations. The treaty is also at the heart of the international community’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.
The lasting effects of the arms race
The Cold War saw a rapid build-up of nuclear weapons on both sides. The United States and the Soviet Union were locked in a race to acquire the most powerful weapons, and the consequences of this arms race were far-reaching.
In an effort to de-escalate the situation, both sides made attempts at disarmament. The United States proposed the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) in 1969, which aimed to limit the number of nuclear weapons each side could possess.
The Soviet Union responded with the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) in 1972, which sought to limit the number of anti-ballistic missiles each side could have. Despite these efforts, the arms race continued and the Cold War dragged on.
In the late 1980s, the United States and the Soviet Union made a renewed effort to de-escalate the arms race. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) was signed in 1987, which banned the possession of certain types of nuclear weapons.
This was followed by the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in 1991, which sought to reduce the number of strategic nuclear weapons each side could possess.
These efforts were successful in reducing the number of nuclear weapons, but the Cold War was not ended until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Disarmament efforts
The Cold War arms race had a profound effect on the world, with different regions feeling its effects in varying degrees. In Europe, the buildup of nuclear weapons created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty as both sides sought to gain an advantage over one another.
This led to increased military spending by European countries in order to protect themselves from potential attack. The Middle East was also affected by the arms race, as it became a major battleground for proxy wars between the US and USSR.
Both sides provided economic aid and military support to their respective allies in this region, leading to further instability and conflict.
In Asia, the nuclear arms race caused great concern due to its proximity to China which possessed its own nuclear arsenal at that time. As such, many Asian nations felt threatened by the possibility of a superpower confrontation occurring on their doorstep.
To counter this threat, some countries began developing their own arsenals while others sought protection through alliances with either side or neutrality agreements like SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization).
Ultimately though, these efforts were not enough to prevent regional tensions from escalating during this period of time.
